July 2022 Climate Summary

Temperature Anomalies for the Upper Mississippi River Valley:

During July 2022, temperatures averaged near-normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Monthly average temperatures ranged from 66.5°F at Medford Taylor County Airport, WI (AWOS) to 75°F at La Crosse Regional Airport, WI (ASOS). The hottest temperature was 99°F near Theilman, MN (COOP) on July 19 and the coldest temperature was 44°F at near Mauston. WI on July 15.

Rainfall Anomalies for the Upper Mississippi River Valley:

Rain totals ranged from 2.04” at Northeast Iowa Regional Airport (AWOS) to 12.67” near Ostrander, MN (CoCoRaHS). The greatest 1-day rainfall was 5.25" in Grand Meadow, MN. This rainfall fell from 7 AM on July 23 to 7 AM on July 24.

Rainfall anomalies ranged from 4” drier-than-normal to 6” wetter-than-normal across the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The wettest areas were found from Fillmore and eastern Mower counties southeast in southwest Crawford and western Grant counties. Decorah, IA had their wettest July (10.83"). The previous record was 10.73" in 1950. This was their 12th wettest month. Their wettest month was in August 2007 (15.11"). Records began in 1887.

Grand Meadow, MN had their 2nd wettest July (10.74"). Only 1999 was wetter (13.34"). Records began in 1887. Prairie du Chien, WI had their 2nd wettest July (10.45"). Only 1940 was wetter with 10.96". Records began in 1893. Preston, MN had their 2nd wettest July (11.58"). Only 1999 was wetter with 12.42". Records began in 1952. The driest areas were found along and north of Interstate 94 in Wisconsin and from Floyd southeast into southwest Fayette counties. No areas were among their 10 driest.

Severe Weather Summary for the Upper Mississippi River Valley:

During the month, there were 37 severe weather warnings (29 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, 5 Flash Flood Warnings, and 3 Tornado Warnings). This was above the 1986-2022 average of 28 severe weather warnings. The greatest number of severe weather warnings in a July was 78 warnings (70 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and 8 Flash Flood Warnings) in 2008. There were 3 confirmed tornadoes in west-central Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota (all during the afternoon of July 23). This was the most tornadoes in July since 2019 when there was 6 tornadoes. The most in a July was 14 tornadoes in 1994.

The July 2022 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI and Rochester, MN can be found below.

La Crosse, WI

July 2022 - Drier than Normal in La Crosse, WI

...July 2022 Highlights...

Temperatures...Normal

The average temperature was 75°F at La Crosse Regional Airport. This was normal.
The average high temperature was 85.3°F. This was 0.1°F cooler than the 1991-2020 normal of 85.4°F.
The average low temperature was 64.6°F. This was 0.1°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 64.5°F.
The hottest temperature was 95°F on July 5.
The coldest temperature was 57°F on July 25.
There were 5 days with high temperatures 90°F or hotter this month. Typically, there are 6 days.

Rainfall...Drier-than-Normal

A total of 3.90" of rain fell during the month. This was 0.33" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 4.23". This was the driest July since 2020 (1.72" - 18th driest). While the airport was drier than normal, the NWS office on La Crosse ridge received 6.03" of rain which was 1.77" wetter than normal.
Rain fell on 16 out of the 31 days. Measurable rain fell on 12 days (38.7%) and a trace of rain fell on 4 days (12.9%).
The wettest day was July 15 when 1.46" of rain fell. This was the wettest day since June 13, 2022 (2.09").

Severe Weather...First Tornado in the County Since March 2017

During the afternoon of July 23, a brief EF0 tornado developed just south of the Highway 16 and Interstate 90 interchange and tracked southeast through a nature preserve. The tornado crossed over County Road B and Swamp Road, where it damaged a narrow swath of trees. This was the first tornado in the county since March 6, 2017.
In addition to the tornado, 2 lines of storms produced scattered tree damage across the county and street flooding in La Crosse.

...Records...

Daily...
- Wettest July 15 - 1.46 inches of rain - Previous Record 0.85 inches in 1900

...Looking ahead to August...

The normal high temperature in La Crosse starts off at 85°F on August 1st and falls to 81°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature starts off at 64°F on the 1st and falls to 60°F by the end of the month. The normal mean temperature for the month is 72.8°F. La Crosse’s hottest August occurred in 1947 with an average temperature of 78.3°F, and their coldest August occurred in both 1927 and 1915 with an average temperature of 64.8°F.
For August, the hottest temperature ever recorded was 105°F on August 1, 1988, and the coldest temperature was 35°F on August 30, 1915. There are typically 4 days with temperatures at or above 90°F.
The average precipitation for August is 3.90". The wettest August occurred in 2007 when 13.75" of rain fell and the driest occurred in 1894 when 0.35" of rain fell. The wettest August day was 4.05" on August 18, 2007. Normally, there are 6 days with thunderstorms.
Valley fog is quite prevalent in the area. On average, this fog reduces the visibility to a quarter-mile or less at the airport on 3 days.

Rochester, MN

July 2022 was Slightly Warmer and Wetter than Normal in Rochester, MN

...July 2022 Highlights...

Temperatures...Slightly Warmer-than-Normal

The average temperature was 71°F at Rochester International Airport. This was 0.5°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 70.5°F.
The average high temperature was 80.8°F. This was 0.5°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 80.3°F.
The average low temperature was 61.2°F. This was 0.4°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 60.8°F.
The hottest temperature was 89°F on July 5.
The coldest temperature was 53°F on July 25 and July 29.
There were no days with 90°F or hotter temperatures this month. This is the first time in a July since 2015. Typically, there are 4 days.

Rainfall...Slightly Wetter-than-Normal

A total of 5.01" of rain fell during the month. This was 0.82" wetter than the 1991-2020 normal of 4.19". This was the wettest July since 2019 (7.38").
Measurable rain fell on 11 days (35.5%) and a trace of rain fell on 2 days (6.5%).
Just over 60% of the monthly rain fell on July 23rd (3.09" fell). This was not only the wettest day of the month, but it was also the 7th wettest July day. It was the wettest July day since July 25, 2005 (3.48"). The wettest July day occurred back in 1981 (July 11) when 7.47" of rain fell. This was also the wettest day ever recorded in Rochester.

Severe Weather -

During the afternoon of July 23, severe thunderstorms produced wind gusts up to 66 mph (Rochester Mayo Helipad). This resulted in scattered to numerous tree damage across Olmsted County.

...Records...

Daily...
- Wettest July 23 - 3.09 inches of rain - Previous Record 1.73 inches in 1968

...Looking ahead to August...

The normal high temperature in Rochester falls from 79°F on August 1st to 76°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature falls from 60°F on the 1st to 56°F by the end of the month. The normal mean temperature for the month is 68.2°F. Rochester’s hottest August occurred in 1947 with an average temperature of 77°F, and their coldest August occurred in 1992 with an average of 63.1°F.

For August, the hottest temperature ever recorded was 100°F on August 3, 1930, August 15, 1936, August 4, 1947, August 23, 1948, and August 24, 1948, and the coldest temperature was 32°F on August 30, 1915. Normally, there is only 1 day with temperatures at or above 90°F.

The average precipitation for August is 4.12". The wettest August occurred in 2007 when 14.07" of rain fell and the driest occurred in 1941 when 0.31" of rain fell. The wettest August day was 5.16 " on August 18, 2007. Normally, there are 6 days with thunderstorms.